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Drug explosion gets Warbrick jail time

A Blind River man will spend six months in jail after he blew up his apartment trying to make hash oil from marijuana in December 2014.

Superior Court Justice Michael Varpio said general deterrence is a leading factor in his decision to sentence Gary Ross Warbrick, 64, to imprisonment.

“The explosion in the fourplex has caused unfortunate financial consequences to the landlord and, but for considerable luck, could easily have caused serious damage to innocent third parties,” he said in his five-page decision. “The need to deter and denounce such risks is obvious.”

Warbrick pleaded guilty to disregard to human life and production of a controlled substance on May 31.

Warbrick used butane to heat marijuana to make hash oil even though he was warned by a neighbour not to.

“This is a dangerous process which can easily leads to explosions,” said Varpio.

Other residents in the fourplex on Nadon Street and first responders were in danger because of Warbrick's actions. The property owner's insurance company refuses to cover fire damage. The landlords peg their losses at $80,000. The property damage “caused the landlords to alter their retirement plans,” said Varpio.

Warbrick suffered severe burns in the explosion and spent several weeks in coma.

Varpio considered Warbrick's childhood, growing up in a home where violence and alcohol were present, being sexually abused by another youth when he was 12 or 13 and not being in trouble with the law since 1992 as factors in his sentencing. Except for his ongoing use of marijuana, Warbrick has been “relatively productive and beneficial to society.” Warbrick worked in construction and as a general labourer. He receives Ontario Disability Support Program assistance because of physical ailments resulting from work.

Varpio noted Warbrick did not make the hash oil to sell, but for his own use. Warbrick is an older man “with an addiction issue.”

He tried rehabilitation when he was 48, but said “it didn't work out.”

“He is not in need of any probation, however I suggest to Mr. Warbrick that he try to re-commence counselling in hopes of potentially dealing with some of his underlying personal and/or addiction issues,” said Varpio in his decision.

Warbrick must give a DNA sentence and cannot possess a weapon for 10 years.